When the rocket with a nuclear engine?

On march 1 the president of Russia Vladimir Putin in the message to the federal assembly presented samples of the latest Russian weapons: weapons "The dagger", "Sarmat" and "Avant-garde", as well as unmanned underwater vehicle and a missile with a nuclear power plant. It's not me, it's "News", if that. "The Russian army has promised new products in the field of strategic weapons. "
of course, Putin did not bring samples to the federal assembly is not dumped. Such not under force even to him. Presented in words, of course. However, words are not just words as hot air or sound.

This is the information directly accessible to the user and hidden meaning. And it is no wonder that the hidden meaning of all together began to dig. Especially the "Rocket with a nuclear engine". How many discussions and "Secret files", a story about another "Nameusername" uber-baraholka that will be on combat duty, i think not worth listing thousands. Let me a little bit of history. The history of nuclear engine began in the distant 50-ies of the last century. When it exploded the first bomb and went the first reactor. And then the smart people (and there were clearly more than now) realized that here it is, almost inexhaustible source of energy.

And began to think about how using the nuclear engine to get a long and independent float/fly all in a row. With "Float/walk" turned out. But with the "Fly/drive" was a bust. Although for the first time, everything seemed easy. Well, in those years, all everything easier treated.

Put the reactor into a submarine – and aircraft stick. And yes, the ussr had given appropriate instructions. The aircraft had to construct tupolev and myasishchev, and nuclear engines for them — efficient and top-secret kb arkhip cradles. Failed. Turbojet engine with a nuclear reactor (trdu) design is very much like a conventional turbojet engine (trd). Only if in a turbojet thrust is created expanding the combustion of kerosene hot gases, in tga the air is heated by passing through the reactor. Hence, the major shortcomings that stopped both ours and the americans. 1. Airplanes sometimes fall.

In and of themselves, and thanks to the help from the outside, and the fault of the crew. And the idea of a flying time machine with a nuclear reactor "Not inspired". And when we "Dropped" in Canada military satellite of the kosmos series with a nuclear power plant. The stench was more than radioactive contamination, but had to pay in full. 2.

The inevitable radioactive contamination of air emitted by the decay products of these once-through units. 3. The radioactive threat to the crew. What can i say, if during the project tupolev t-95лл, and the project on myasishchev 3m weight protection had to reach up to 60 tons! yes, today the bomber weighing in at 200 tons and more normal. But 60 years ago – alas. In general, it became clear that atomic/nuclear reactor is only applicable where you can guarantee not one use of the crew.

That is, the ships and submarines of large tonnage. About all the projects of the nuclear aircraft, tanks, locomotives forgot once and for all. Because even today, to create a 100% safe product is not the size of an aircraft carrier or cruiser seems to be as unreal. Yes, the project of a huge cruise missiles, soaring at a great height an unlimited amount of time (or long enough) in a nuclear reactor some time agitated the not too distant minds. The question is, why should i, as a layman, that security? if the means of providing this security, i'll have to go in ozk and gas mask?
subject podzilla. Especially considering the system of refueling in the air, thanks to which strategic bombers Russia had no problems to reach the starting line on the borders of the United States, and vice versa. But, like almost seventy years ago, the alternatives for the nuclear engine for means long flights in the atmosphere yet. Yes, from time to time break information messages about a particular invention of a type of photon drive, or a nuclear engine for a "Space tug". It is clear that certain works were, are and will be, because the only way to achieve a breakthrough in science, in technology. Space of the reactor was carried out by scientists of institute of a name of keldysh.

From time to time there are even materials on the subject of future space systems. But, as people say, who closely monitor the space theme a few years ago, information institute to share stopped. This can be interpreted in two ways: either the work that was carried out had suddenly become classified, or stopped altogether. For lack of prospects lack of funding. But that still leaked, it is possible to draw some conclusions, as it did in the highly respected popular science magazine, "Pop-mekhanika" ("Nuclear déjà vu: is there a missile with a nuclear engine"). Had an approximate composition of unique fuel for the engine "Space tug".

For a nuclear rocket engine (nre) is intended to be used fuel, which consisted of carbides of uranium compounds, tungsten and niobium with carbon. This fuel performed well when working in a hydrogen environment, in which, however, had to add heptane to suppress chemical reactions of carbides with hydrogen. But oxy-carbides can not work: the carbon is oxidized wellwarmed (up to 2,000 degrees) with oxygen, and all remaining metals will melt and just fly with the flow of the coolant. Hello, radiation. Fuel cells develops and manufactures npo luch in podolsk. Yes, they say there mastered the technology of coating the fuel rods niobium metal is inexpensive and extremely sturdy.

Hypothetically, the reactor is less sensitive to the environment, but niobium is also quite normal oxidized with oxygen and to serve as a sufficient protection can't. In general, it turns out that the yard can be operated in conditions of mars, venus, space exploration in general, but absolutely does not work on the ground. And if the new yard represents a further development of the soviet space nuclear power systems "Buk" and "Topaz", which at first was invented for use in space, to talk about the adaptation of yard to fly in the atmosphere is a little naive. Okay, let's go to the other side. Suppose that the basis engine for the miracle of the rocket will be the reactor on fast and slow neutrons. Can this be?
theoretically completely.

No, in general, does not say what should be the reactor. Really the bulk of the soviet space reactor "Buk" worked on fast neutrons. But its successor "Topaz" at the intermediate. Next?
then is fantastic.

The reactor on thermal neutrons can be compact. And even very small. But you need to use quite so fantastic like exotic isotope americium-242м. Theoretical calculations showed that when using this isotope as a fuel with the moderator of zirconium hydride americium-242м will have the critical mass less than 50 g. Accordingly, the reactor will have a diameter (without reflector) 10 cm
that's just one little problem.

The letter "M". The letter at the end of the name means that a given nuclear isotope is in a state of excitement. Conventional americium-242, whose core is located in a very low energy state, the half-life of only 16 hours, and the kernel 242м — as many as 140 years. Because, in fact, is not serviced until the normal production of americium-242м, although it seems to be easy. Just select from the spent nuclear fuel, any nuclear power plant americium-241 or its oxide in sufficient quantity, then compressed into pills and loaded into the reactor on fast neutrons, the same bn-800.

The output should be the desired americium-242м. In normal quantities. Apparently not as smooth as on paper, because we do not observe a tiny nuclear reactors, capable of a couple of days to carry on a dizzying altitude cruise missile with a bunch of warheads. We yet do not observe. You can, of course, to present everything. Especially before elections.

And a mini-reactor, aircraft, and cruise missile in the yard. All the principles have been developed and described even then, in the 50-60-ies of the last century when it all began. Nothing new has been invented yet. Two classes are quite different from each other. The first, direct heating of the air in the reactor, infecting everything on high, but on the other hand, if we are talking about the doomsday weapon, then what the hell, the environment?
the second indirectly heated, when the air and the reactor is the intermediate heat transfer medium and the heat exchanger. This scheme is definitely much cleaner, as the fission products into the air, but again, what's the difference?
not if the missiles would just be wandering around in the upper atmosphere as a weapon of deterrence is one thing.

But if they start to spread apart its warheads continent one of the opponents (yeah, both!), then again, careful they are out there in the atmosphere or not, is meaningless aspectit. In the video, in the presidential address were shown like the land-based missiles, starting with a conventional solid rocket motor. Well, even logical. Our nuclear engine is not emitting fission fragments directly into the air (maybe), he's all right and clean like this. Fierce delirium, but what to do?
what to do with the radiation from the nuclear reactor? three layers of lead? hard. So, ecology zero, even if you start on normal missile, and nuclear run on top.

Not a bad idea. Only spoil our catastrophic "Successes" in the space program. And here's one thing to get head from a height not "Proton" with its charming heptyl, but it is a nuclear reactor.
thank you for your concern, of course. She still perspektivka, however. Of course, if we're talking about the same last kick and the doomsday weapon, in principle, do not care.

And on the environment, on the economy and all. It is possible the fuel rods aren't a niobium coating, and gold or iridium. If only the miracle of the rockets launched, flew over the ball, bringing the crazy, ballistic computers, skirted areas maximum effective air and missile defense of the enemy and made a final chord. And again doubt. It seems Putin has promised us that the size of the rocket with a nuclear reactor will not exceed the dimensions of conventional cruise missiles, long-range — x-101 or of the same "Caliber". Well, if you imagine all these pocket - "Miracle-reactors" who are created in sufficient quantities and of sufficient quality immediately after cheap and reliable domestic cpu. Smart people have decided that the stated size of the kill in the bud the idea of using heat exchangers.

Although the heat exchanger "Gas-gas" for such heat flux, in principle, realize thatshows the design of a space plane using atmospheric oxygen sabre, but here in the caliber rockets 533 mm it will not fit in any way. So, heat can only be a direct, once-through, and the exhaust will be highly radioactive. This can end and ask the final question: why all this had Putin on march 1? to throw another bone to the electorate, "We the whole world tear"? (we ' bout to break the world we will discuss them separately in the near future. )
but here is the interesting thing. Or mr. President/presidential candidate simply lied (in order to bring him votes, playing on the feelings of the citizens), or. Interestingly it turns out. If we have such a rocket appears, Putin automatically became in the eyes of the world someone like gaddafi and saddam hussein with chemical weapons.

Missiles, which in the case of start will poison the atmosphere: this would be a good topic to poorat the Western media. And not just the media. Here and un naviagate in full. But i repeat, if this missile will be. Which i highly doubt, and here's why. I don't need to impose their point of view, just give the speech of a person, not just understanding the problem, and smart and just worked on this topic. Igor ostretsov. Doctor of technical sciences, professor, specialist in nuclear physics and atomic energy. From 1965 to 1980— head of the laboratory of the 1st missile of the institute (present research center.

Keldysh). In 1965-1976 gg. Taught at mgtu im. Bauman. The area of interest, in those years, space energy and number of applied problems in the military sphere, including problems of ragionevolmente space and atmospheric flying machines. From 1980 to 2008 — deputy director of the research institute of nuclear engineering science. From 1986 to 1987, he directed the work of the ministry of power engineering of the Soviet Union at chernobyl. A little, but the man is very secretive, you know.

Listen igor nikolaevich. No populism. No fantasies. At this age and with such person's merits is difficult to buy, because, frankly, believe every word the professor ostretsov. Everything i wrote here above, igor, in principle, confirmed a dozen phrases.

Clearly and accessibly. For the first three and a half minutes. Listen. Just listen to intelligent and understanding people. "The purpose for which it was announced, well, kill me, i don't understand.

For foreign professionals all this is certainly clear. This is likely to focus on domestic untrained listener".

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